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  #1  
Old 15 Nov 2010
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Dead Bike
Thanks everyone for all the advice. Just to mention. I tried to jump start the bike in 2nd but nothing there either. Ring antenna on ignition was changed by BMW before we left home tho that doesn·t mean anything I guess. Think my first choice would be to try and source a live battery and give that a go.
I will post back when I get any news.
Thanks again
Kev & Lorraine
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Old 15 Nov 2010
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Don't forget WD40 is the kiss of death as far as electrics go, always use a proper contact cleaner. Hope you get it sorted.
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  #3  
Old 16 Nov 2010
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Not Dead GSA!
Hi all,
Update on the situation.
I took the battery into a local mechanic who tested it and said all was ok with it. They said they would come round to us at 17:00 as they were just going on siesta. 17:00'ish!! they turned up and had a look at the bike, still saying it wasn't the battery, maybe the solenoid or starter motor. Anyway, long story short, they brought the bike back at 21:30 running good as ever. They had stripped, cleaned and serviced the starter motor and as far as they could see everything is ok now. Cost AR$400 about £60.
Not sure of their address at the moment as I am in a coffee shop and don't have their card but easy enough to find if Grant would like to add it to his list of world wide mechanics, they are called "On Track Motos", I will post the full address next time I'm on line.
Thanks for all your replies
Kev & Lorraine
Back on the road
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  #4  
Old 18 Nov 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by panhandle1300 View Post
... They had stripped, cleaned and serviced the starter motor and as far as they could see everything is ok now.
...
Glad to hear the bike is running again . How many miles do you have on your GS? I'd consider the starter motor on an '07 model as unusual cause. But, ya never know...
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Old 18 Nov 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by panhandle1300 View Post
... I tried to jump start the bike in 2nd but nothing there either....
Kev & Lorraine
Seems strange that it didnt start in 2nd gear if it was inded the starter motor. The starter serves no function when trying this.
Possibly could have been a dickie connection on the starter however I would still suspect the battery. I am an Electrician and have seen plenty of batteries "come back to life" after being "shaken" or even after being load tested.

Panhandle1300, was there any problems with your ABS prior to the fault. I ask this as the ABS is voltage sensitive and any loss of or low power will cause "funny" things to happen with the ABS. (speaking from experience $$$).

Hope all is still and will be all OK

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  #6  
Old 21 Nov 2010
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Not Dead GSA
T.REX63 - Bike is now in Berlin Motos BMW in Tucuman for 30,000 (just short of that on the clock) mile service, I mentioned the problem to them and they will check it out.
As I said earlier, I had a no start prob with only 2,000 miles on the clock and BMW changed both starter motor and battery to fix it even tho their computer said there was nothing wrong.

Quandary - The bike did splutter once or twice on a bump but wouldn't fire up (TKC's no grip and slipping on Salta streets maybe!!). No ABS on the bike either, I don't ride fast enough !!! lol.
Thanks for the replies
Kev & Lorraine
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Old 22 Nov 2010
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Will be interesting to hear what the dealer finds, if anything... Hopefully, it's just a fluke never to be heard of again .
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  #8  
Old 2 Dec 2010
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It was a dirty starter motor!
Hi all,
Update on the bike after the service.
We left the bike with Berlin Moto's in Tucaman and told them that the starter had apparently been playing up according to On Track Moto's in Salta. They said they would look at it for us on top of the normal service routine. All was reported as good when we picked the bike back up and they confirmed that On Track had looked at and serviced the starter motor. Their diagnostics computer didn't report anything either, not the overheating or why the engine cut out at 5000 mtrs on the Paso San Francisco. However, I do think that was down to us not being able to get enough speed up on the ripio to feed air into the oil cooler and what little oxygen there was into the engine.
Today we left Tilcara in Northwest Argentina (at 2,300 Mtrs) and are taking the Paso de Jama back into Chile and San Pedro de Atacama. We have been running at around the 4,000 Mtr mark for most of the day , albeit on tarmac, and have had no problems.
Hopefully we will have some smooth running before the next problem hits us
Thanks again.
Kev & Lorraine
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  #9  
Old 3 Dec 2010
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Originally Posted by T.REX63 View Post
Will be interesting to hear what the dealer finds, if anything... Hopefully, it's just a fluke never to be heard of again .
I hope it isn't a fluke, otherwise there is nothing to be learnt here.

I'm reading this thread with interest so if you do get more insight into the exact reason of the failure(s) then please post them.

I for one don't like surprises, at least not ones that i can't fix.
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Old 7 Dec 2010
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As far as I could make out with my limited Spanish the problem was that with all the ripio we have been riding dust and dirt had gotten into the starter motor clogging the brushes/contacts and therefore not allowing the starter to turn. Maybe if I cleaned the bike more often would've helped ... lol
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